What does "OCNL LTGCGCC DSNT NW" denote?

The phrase "OCNL LTGCGCC DSNT NW" is an aviation weather observation shorthand, which reflects specific meteorological information relevant to flight operations. The term "OCNL" stands for "occasional," indicating that the phenomenon being described is not constant but occurs at intervals. "LTGCGCC" refers to "lightning cloud to ground and cloud to cloud," which signifies the type of lightning activity present in the area. The abbreviation "DSNT" means "distant," specifying that the observed activity is not immediate to the reporting station but is observed some distance away. Finally, "NW" denotes the direction—northwest—indicating where the activity is occurring relative to the observer.

This combination of terms accurately captures the nature and location of the lightning activity, making option A the correct interpretation of the abbreviation. The other choices do not encompass the full meaning conveyed by the terms used in the phrase, missing elements of the specific location, type of lightning, and its occurrence.